Men's Lacrosse: Bryant Wins a Thriller Against Army, 7-6

WEST POINT, N.Y. - With two assists already in the game, sophomore Max Weisenberg (Long Beach, N.Y.) picked the right time to net his first goal of the game Tuesday against Army. The sophomore middie scored with just over a minute remaining to help lead the Bryant University men's lacrosse team to a thrilling 7-6 win over the Black Knights on a cold a rainy afternoon.

Bryant (2-1) trailed 4-3 at the half but scored two third-period goals to take a 5-4 advantage into the final quarter.

Army (1-1), which outshot the Bulldogs 23-9 in the first half, rallied to tie the game as Garrett Thul notched his third goal of the afternoon midway through the final quarter to knot the game up at 5-5 with 8:58 remaining.

Two minutes later, with Army's Sam Harrison off for a minute for slashing, the Bulldogs took advantage as Gary Crowley (Scituate, Mass.) scored his second of the game with 6:26 left to put Bryant back on top.

Army wouldn't go away, as Bryant withstood four-straight shots and fought off a man-down situation with under five minutes left, but the Black Knight's rallied as Thul netted his fourth of the game with just 2:04 remaining to make it 6-6.

Needing an answer, the Bulldogs got the lift they needed from senior face-off specialist Andrew Hennessey (Wading River, N.Y.). Hennessey, who had a rough first half but came back to win six of eight face-off's in the second half, won the ensuing face-off to give the Bulldogs possession. Less than a minute later, Weisenberg beat goalie Tim Palesky for the game-winner with just 1:18 left on the clock.

Army would have one last shot to tie it but a Jeremy Boltus shot in the final seconds was wide.

The Bulldogs got off to a good start in the opening quarter as Crowley scored midway through the first. After Boltus tied it up following a failed clear by the Bulldogs, Larson answered right back to put the Bulldogs up 2-1 with 2:02 left.

Travis Harrington (Vestal, N.Y.) made it 3-1 Bryant with a goal with 37 seconds left, but it was all Army in the second as the hosts scored three unanswered goals to take a 4-3 lead into the locker room at the break.

Hennessey finished the game winning 8-of-17 face-offs as Army out-shot the visitors 24 to 37 for the game.

Crowley and Matt Larson (Cheshire, Conn.) each finished with two goals while Harrington had a goal and pair of assists. For Crowley, it was the junior's fourth goal of the season, tying him with Weisenberg.

Bryant goalie Jameson Love (Darien, Conn.) had 13 saves in net for the Bulldogs who will travel to Fairfield on Saturday for a 12 pm game.